Wireless loud speaker and the like



Aug. 4, 1931. a. 6. DE ANDlA-YRARRAZAVAL 5 WIRELESS LOUD SPEAKER AND THELIKE Filed April 16. 1929 Patented Aug. 4, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE WIRELESS LOUD SPEAKER AND THE LIKE Application filed April 16,1929, Serial No. 355,564, and in Great Britain April 17, 1928.

This invention relates to sound amplifying devices such as thoseemployed in connection with the wireless reception of sound.

Loud speakers embodying units of the moving coil or balanced armaturetype are recognized as being excellent not only in respect of volume ofsound obtained but also in respect of the strength and purity of thereproduction of speech and music. It has, however, heretofore beenconsidered essential, in order to obtain the best results and obviatedistortion of the lower notes, to provide a rigid bafile so as toprevent alternate neutralization and reinforcement of the air wavessimultaneously set up by both the front and back of the cone employed inthese types of loud speakers.

According to the present invention a sound amplifier, preferablycomprising a unit of the said moving coil, balanced armature, or similartype, is combined with a sound distributing cone or reflector and is somounted and arranged that the use of a battle board as heretoforeusually employed is dispensed with, the volume, purity and strength ofthe reproduction being even better than when a bathe board of usualcharacter is used and the tonal range increased. The sound distributingcone or reflector is arranged axially in front of the mouth of a soundtube with the other end of which the receiving unit is associated.

The reflector may consist of a hollow saucerlike body so that thereflecting surface is backed by a cushion of air, or it may consist of asimple saucer-like body not made hollow whether or not provided with anair deflecting cone at its central portion. Alternatively the reflectormay be of more or less cone or pear-shape and in this case also it maybe a simple body or be made hollow to provide an air cushion.

In some cases the said cone or reflector is adjustable towards and awayfrom the said sound tube; for example, it may be carried by telescopicrods, suitable means, such as a wing nut or wing nuts or any otherappropriate device or devices, being provided to secure the cone orreflector in any position into which it is adjusted.

\Vith advantage the said sound tube is provided with a flange or othermeans whereby it can be mounted on a hollow support which can be made ofany desired ornamental shape. The support may for example be shaped as 5a vase and preferably it is open at the bottom and supported on feet,for example balls or semi-circular blocks of india-rubber whereby it canrest on a table or other supporting surface. It is found that with this6 arrangement the higher notes mainly issue through the mouth of thesound tube and are distributed in all directions by the cone, and thelower notes mainly issue through the open bottom of the supporting vaseor the 6 like.

Fig. 1 of the accompanying illustrative drawings shows in sectionalelevation a construction of sound amplifier embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan of the improved sound amplifier.

The sound amplifier illustrated by way of example is embodied in astructure that constitutes an ornamental electric table lamp.

1 indicates a wireless receiving unit of the pivoted armature or movingcoil type and 2 the stiff paper cone to which the moving coil of thesaid unit is fixed. 3 indicates the slotted metal cone that surroundsthe paper cone 2 and which carries the magnet. The re ceiving unit,which is of known construction, is mounted as shown at the mouth of asound tube 4 having a flange 5 which is screwed or otherwise suitablysecured to a B flange 6 forming the lip of a casing 7 that is so shapedas to present the appearance of an ornamental bowl that in the exampleshown forms the base of an electric lamp. The said casing 7 isconstructed of papier-mach but upper end of the sound tube. The saidarms are hollow and are formed with curved tubular brackets 11 fittedwith holders for electric lamp bulbs 12, the electric conductors forsaid lamps being led through the tubular brackets and away from the lampin any suitable unobtrusive manner.

With advantage, but not necessarily, the sound tube is formed with anumber of holes 13 arranged in downwardly inclined rows and graduallyincreasing in size from the highest downwardly.

Preferably the cone 9, which is formed of papier-maoh or other suitablematerial, is hollow and is closed at its larger or top end by aninverted saucer-like cover 9 formed in one therewith, the said coverbeing also, it may be, formed with holes as shown in the plan view, Fig.2.

The receiving unitis carried by a flange l-l located between the flange5 of the sound tube and the flange 6 of the bowl or casing. If desired apacking ring 15 of felt or other material may be located below theflange 5 of the soundtube, as shown.

16 indicates in dotted lines an art shade carried by a suitable framethat may be sin ported on the dome of the sound tube and vhich when inplace surrounds the lamp bulbs, sound tube, and sound distributor, sothat the loud speaker as a whole does not in appearance differ from thatof an ornamental table lamp.

It is an advantage. in order to avoid resonance, to make the reflectoror conical sound distributor so that its peripheral edge or larger enddoes not terminate in a free edge and this is done in the exampleillustrated by making the reflector or conical sound distributor hollowand closing the larger end thereof by a cap or cover the edge of whichis united to the rim of the larger end of the conical reflect This capor cover is preferably of dome or saucer-shape, as shown, and as will beunderstood the construction is such that an endless path is provided forthe vibrations up in the reflector and resonance detrimental to puredelivery of sound is prevented. With advantage the reflector and cap orcover are made of one and the same moulded material but the invention isnot restricted in this respect as any suitable material or materials maybe used in the construction of the reflector or sound distributor.

The sound reproducing unit at the inner end of the sound tube can be ofany desired type but as before stated surprisingly good results areobtained if the said unit is of the moving coil, balanced armature, orsimilar type.

As will beappreciated the conical reflector is not necessarily a strictcone, andthe pointed end of the reflector can be any desired disancefrom the mouth of the sound tube instead of entering the same.

An advantage of a reflector of the char-ac ter described is that thesound waves impinging thereon are outwardly directed in all directionsand an advantage of making said reflector adjustable if so desired isthat the volume and density of the sound delivered can be varied by suchadjustmentand the best possible results obtained according to the typeof sound being reproduced.

'hen the sound tube is arranged vertically with the conical reflectorover the upper end or mouth thereof, which the preferred arrangement, itis a simple matter to give the apparatus an ornamental appearance. Inthe example shown the whole article has the appearance of and functionsas a table lamp as well as a loud, speaker from which the sound issuesin all directions.

The improved sound amplifier with reproducing unit attached can be usedeither for wireless reception or for phonograph reproduction through anysuitable pick up.

What I claim is:

1. A loud speaker, comprising a casing. a loud speaker unit inclosedtherein, a converging sound tube having its larger end secured to thetop of the casing and having a sound outlet at its upper part, and ahollow sounddistributing cone supported over the upper end of the soundtube with its smaller end portion projecting downwardly into it.

2. A loud speaker as setforth in claim 1, the said sound casing beingopen at its bottom and provided with legs so as to provide an additionalsound outlet.

3. A loud sneaker as set forth in claim 1, and provided with upwardlyprojecting arms having their lower ends secured to the sound tube andsupporting the said cone.

l. A loud speaker as set forth in claim 1, the said cone being providedat its upper and larger end *ith a. hollow perforated cover whichprojects laterally of the top edge of the said cone.

In testimony whereof I atlix my signature.

GABRIEL GONZALEZ de ANDlA-YRARRAZAVAL

